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Oregon’s got hot high desert country to the east, balmy coast to the west, and mountains, rivers and forests in between. Not to mention many great towns on your must-see list. You’ve got a lot of ground to cover, and we are here to help you figure out how to get around.

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Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway

A beautiful route for hardy beginners

Editor’s note: If you’ve ridden an Oregon Scenic Bikeway or plan to in 2014, Travel Oregon and Oregon State Parks and Recreation would love to hear from you. Take the survey and let us know your thoughts.

If your bike, like mine, was banished to the carport for the winter, it’s time for a spring spritzing. Get that tune-up you known you’ll be grateful for, and then get out the map to start planning your summer rides.

Oregon’s 11 official scenic bikeways — curated routes chosen to showcase the best and most beautiful rides in the state — offer plenty of variety to choose from. The Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway is a good season-starter for beginner and intermediate riders.

The 37-mile Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway begins in the wooded mountain town of Sisters (home to the Sisters Quilt Show and Sisters Folk Festival) and ends in the high desert at Smith Rock State Park (the mecca of sport rock climbing with thousands of routes spanning the sheer rock walls). The ride includes gorgeous views of the Cascade Mountains, Deschutes River and a host of historical points of interest.

It’s also an approachable ride, according to Casey Meudt, owner and manager of Sisters-based Blazin Saddles bike shop. “There’s a little bit of climbing, but it is a descent for the most part,” Meudt says. He says starting in the Ponderosa pine forest and ending in the open desert makes for epic scenery. “It definitely is one of the most beautiful road rides I’ve ever been on,” he says.

Blazin Saddles can rent you a road bike for the ride, and while they don’t have an official shuttle, Meudt says he and his staff try to accommodate their customers when they can. (He doesn’t recommend the Sisters to Smith Rock as a round-trip ride for beginners.) Meudt says bike-minded visitors will want to pay a visit to Sprocket Café next door. The bike-themed bar is set to open this summer.

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These maps and directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, or other events may cause road conditions to differ from the map results. For travel options, weather and road conditions, visit tripcheck.com, call 511 (in Oregon only), 800.977.6368 or 503.588.2941.

Anyone who loves mountain biking will appreciate the idea of bombing down a flowing single-track trail in the forest near Bend. But bike lovers will be even more thrilled to hear that the folks at Cog Wild are taking things up a notch this winter…

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Reid says…

I took my 5 friends( all beginners) and did this ride a few weekends ago. What a fantastic route. I was pleasantly surprised how well the route was marked, making it super easy to follow. No maps needed. Gorgeous scenery . Highly recommend this

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